| Where the thumb and the wrist meet we find the | | | | go away. But it will start hurting again after you have |
| basal joint or carpometacarpal joint. This is also | | | | given the joint a rest. Eventually the thumb will hurt |
| referred to as the CMC joint. The thumb has a wide | | | | whether you move it or not.. |
| range of movements because of that joint. We can | | | | Your doctor might have an X-Ray taken and he can |
| put our thumb opposite any of our fingers or put it in | | | | estimate how much of your cartilage has worn down. |
| the palm of our hand. This is called opposition. | | | | There are some choices of treatment: |
| The joint is held together by ligaments. These | | | | - physical therapy |
| ligaments can be injured by a sprain. | | | | - anti inflammatory medicines like aspirin or ibuprofen |
| The ends of our joint bones are covered by cartilage. | | | | - cortisone shot |
| It keeps the bone separated. Cartilage is smooth and | | | | The therapist can show you how to control the |
| spongy. It allows one side of the joint to slide smoothly | | | | symptoms. You can do this by using heat, rest or |
| over the other side. | | | | special exercises. You might need to wear a brace. |
| Any damage to ligament or cartilage can change the | | | | He/she can also show you exercises that will make |
| way the joint works. If the ligament gets damaged it | | | | your hand steadier. This will protect your joint from |
| won't hold together the joint properly. If cartilage is | | | | stress and/or shock. |
| damaged or worn down there will be too much friction | | | | Personally I will not take any prescription pain killers. My |
| when one side of the joint slides over the other side. | | | | choice would be to get a good product with |
| If you break your thumb, especially the CMC joint, small | | | | Glucosamine/Chondroitin. You can tell your physician |
| fragments of bone might not line up quite exactly | | | | about not wanting prescription drugs. Many doctors |
| during the healing. And just like any precision tool,when | | | | today understand this and might be able to |
| things are not exactly lined up properly the tool will | | | | recommend a suitable replacement. |
| wear out faster. The same happens to the thumb. | | | | When the pain seems to be more than you can |
| Even the slightest change will put too much stress on | | | | handle...and everybody's pain threshold is different....the |
| the joint. The cartilage will wear away faster and the | | | | doctor might give you a cortisone shot, He will give you |
| joint bones will start rubbing together. An inflammation | | | | that shot right into the joint. It might keep you almost |
| will develop and this is the start of arthritis. | | | | pain free for a few weeks, sometimes a month or |
| At first your thumb might hurt a little when you start | | | | more. |
| moving it. Once the movement gets going the pain will | | | | As a very last resort you could have surgery. |